CA 7L-E or Cargo

DMZ · #1 12-19-2015, 07:44 AM

I passed over 2 used cargo raws in the last 3 years and a NOS cargo burst last summer at a great price. Kicking myself. I like them and have looked but they just seem to not be for sale lately, especially in the older price point and looking on ebay. Where'd they all go? I've seen and played a 7 LE sunburst locally and I do really like it and the full tone as well. Just wondering if I should hold out for a cargo or try to deal on the 7 LE? I know it's one of those up to me and what I want/need things, but I'm on the fence. How does that small rainsong travel guitar compare? Anyone played all 3 or?

thaichine · #2 12-20-2015, 10:09 AM

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a 7 LE? As far as the cargo, if you can get it for a nice price, you will most likely not be disappointed, as long as you are okay with the very short scale.

Acousticado · #3 12-20-2015, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaichine

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a 7 LE? As far as the cargo, if you can get it for a nice price, you will most likely not be disappointed, as long as you are okay with the very short scale.

I'm going on memory here, so iirc, the 7 was the initial model identifier for the GX. The Cargo, having the offset soundhole, spawned its big brother, the GXi, initially called the 7iM. I have an '08 Cargo RT and was (and still am) so impressed with it (for what it is), that later that year I ordered a GXi (a different sounding beast altogether). It was a cannon, a little boomy, tons of bass...I really liked it. I sold it only to help fund my Emerald Chimaera (Artisan) 6/12 doubleneck.

DMZ, if I'm correct, you're comparing a full-size CA to a Cargo. Not a fair comparison, so impossible to say. Both serve very different needs. The Cargo is the perfect couch/travel guitar (though other offerings have emerged in that niche since I bought mine...Emeralds, Journey, Blackbird) that manages to keep up with the big boys. Like I said earlier, the GX/GXi is an entirely different guitar. I've never played a GX, but when I ordered the tobacco burst GXi, I thought it would be a Cargo on steroids. In a way it was, but it had a tone all its own, a cannon, with a piano-like shimmer/sustain.

Hope this helps. Please correct me if I've misunderstood your reference to a CA "7".

Steve Christens · #4 12-20-2015, 12:39 PM

Well I certainly agree that this is sort of an orange to apples comparison, but my recollection is that a CA 7L-E is their full sized Dred, not the GX. The "L" is the designation refers to size, what we would more recently call a Legacy or Vintage model.

If the price is good, go for it. But if you need the small size of the Cargo this isn't going to work for you, though it will of course be every bit as rugged.

And for the record (if anyone still cares.....)

CA Guitars 2008 Line-up:
The Cargo is the travel sized guitar. The 5-8 series represent "quality/price" so-to-speak and not size. Within each series you can order 3 different sizes:
L size("large") = dreadnaught
M size ("medium") = Grand Auditorium cutaway
S size ("Small") = Thin Body Cutaway
XS size = extra small body
C = cutaway
E = electronics
*On the 8 series the dreadnaught can also be ordered in "Vintage" or "Bluegrass"

CARGO
Bracing: Integrated top bracing
Tuners: Gotoh 381
Finish: Solid RT Finish available in Red, Green, Wine, Charcoal and Natural
Inlay: Aluminum Side Dots
Electronics: optional Fishman Acoustic Matrix VT
Case: Gig Bag
Scale length: 22 3/4
Nut width: 1 3/4
body width: 13 1/2
frets: stainless medium
depth: 4
overall length: 35
saddle space: 2 1/4

XS-C or XS-CE

Series 5
Bracing: Standard X bracing
Tuners: Gotoh 381
Finish: RT Finish with Carbon rosette and binding available in Red, Wine, Charcoal and Natural
Inlay: Aluminum Side Dots, top dots 12 fret
Electronics: Fishman Acoustic Matrix VT
Case: Gig Bag
Scale length: 25 1/2
Nut width: 1 3/4
frets: stainless medium

5S-CE (X). 5M-CE (GX), 5L-E (dread)

Series 6
Bracing: Standard X bracing
Tuners: Gotoh 381
Finish: RT Finish with Tribal design available in Red, Wine, Charcoal
Inlay: Aluminum Side Dots, top dots 12 fret
Electronics: Fishman Acoustic Matrix VT
Case: Gig Bag
Scale length: 25 1/2
Nut width: 1 3/4
frets: stainless medium

6S-CE (X). 6M-CE (GX), 6L-E (dread)

Series 7
Bracing: Performance Tuned bracing
Tuners: Gotoh 381
Finish: Gloss finish with Carbon Burst
Inlay: Aluminum Side Dots, top dots 12 fret
Electronics: Fishman Ellipse VT
Case: hard case
Scale length: 25 1/2
Nut width: 1 3/4
frets: stainless medium

7S-CE (X). 7M-CE (GX), 7L-E (dread)

Series 8
Bracing: Performance Tuned bracing
Tuners: Gotoh 503
Finish: Gloss finish with Carbon Burst and Carbon Reveal Binding
Inlay: Aluminum Side Dots, shell top dots, shell soundhole ring
Electronics: LR Baggs Imix
Case: hard case
Scale length: 25 1/2
Nut width: 1 3/4
frets: stainless medium

8S-CE (X). 8M-CE (GX), 8L-E (dread)
also:
8LV-E (vintage) and 8LB (bluegrass)

From a 2010 posting:

Not sure of the total numbers but here is the serial number decipher using my custom high gloss balck cargo as an example:

CE109014-1

CE = Cargo Electronics
1 = Gloss
09 = Year made
014 = Day of the year so January 14th
1 = How many of that guitar were made that day

Below are the finish codes:
1 Gloss
2 Road Tough
3 Tobacco
4 Snakeskin
5 Tribal
6 Custom
7 Raw

Acousticado · #5 12-20-2015, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Christens

Well I certainly agree that this is sort of an orange to apples comparison, but my recollection is that a CA 7L-E is their full sized Dred, not the GX. The "L" is the designation refers to size, what we would more recently call a Legacy or Vintage model.

If the price is good, go for it. But if you need the small size of the Cargo this isn't going to work for you, though it will of course be every bit as rugged.

And for the record (if anyone still cares.....)

CA Guitars 2008 Line-up:
The Cargo is the travel sized guitar. The 5-8 series represent "quality/price" so-to-speak and not size. Within each series you can order 3 different sizes:
L size("large") = dreadnaught
M size ("medium") = Grand Auditorium cutaway
S size ("Small") = Thin Body Cutaway
XS size = extra small body
C = cutaway
E = electronics
*On the 8 series the dreadnaught can also be ordered in "Vintage" or "Bluegrass"

CARGO
Bracing: Integrated top bracing
Tuners: Gotoh 381
Finish: Solid RT Finish available in Red, Green, Wine, Charcoal and Natural
Inlay: Aluminum Side Dots
Electronics: optional Fishman Acoustic Matrix VT
Case: Gig Bag
Scale length: 22 3/4
Nut width: 1 3/4
body width: 13 1/2
frets: stainless medium
depth: 4
overall length: 35
saddle space: 2 1/4

XS-C or XS-CE

Series 5
Bracing: Standard X bracing
Tuners: Gotoh 381
Finish: RT Finish with Carbon rosette and binding available in Red, Wine, Charcoal and Natural
Inlay: Aluminum Side Dots, top dots 12 fret
Electronics: Fishman Acoustic Matrix VT
Case: Gig Bag
Scale length: 25 1/2
Nut width: 1 3/4
frets: stainless medium

5S-CE (X). 5M-CE (GX), 5L-E (dread)

Series 6
Bracing: Standard X bracing
Tuners: Gotoh 381
Finish: RT Finish with Tribal design available in Red, Wine, Charcoal
Inlay: Aluminum Side Dots, top dots 12 fret
Electronics: Fishman Acoustic Matrix VT
Case: Gig Bag
Scale length: 25 1/2
Nut width: 1 3/4
frets: stainless medium

6S-CE (X). 6M-CE (GX), 6L-E (dread)

Series 7
Bracing: Performance Tuned bracing
Tuners: Gotoh 381
Finish: Gloss finish with Carbon Burst
Inlay: Aluminum Side Dots, top dots 12 fret
Electronics: Fishman Ellipse VT
Case: hard case
Scale length: 25 1/2
Nut width: 1 3/4
frets: stainless medium

7S-CE (X). 7M-CE (GX), 7L-E (dread)

Series 8
Bracing: Performance Tuned bracing
Tuners: Gotoh 503
Finish: Gloss finish with Carbon Burst and Carbon Reveal Binding
Inlay: Aluminum Side Dots, shell top dots, shell soundhole ring
Electronics: LR Baggs Imix
Case: hard case
Scale length: 25 1/2
Nut width: 1 3/4
frets: stainless medium

8S-CE (X). 8M-CE (GX), 8L-E (dread)
also:
8LV-E (vintage) and 8LB (bluegrass)

From a 2010 posting:

Not sure of the total numbers but here is the serial number decipher using my custom high gloss balck cargo as an example:

CE109014-1

CE = Cargo Electronics
1 = Gloss
09 = Year made
014 = Day of the year so January 14th
1 = How many of that guitar were made that day

Below are the finish codes:
1 Gloss
2 Road Tough
3 Tobacco
4 Snakeskin
5 Tribal
6 Custom
7 Raw

Ah-ha, I remember having seen this. Thanks, Steve.

DMZ · #6 12-20-2015, 05:15 PM

Thanks for the replies. Good info! I know i'm kinda late to the party on carbon fiber. I do like those I've sampled. The local deal on the 7 LE was not discounted to my liking yesterday. So, I'm going to wait and also find out more info on the alternatives to the cargo here and online.

DMZ · #7 12-20-2015, 05:28 PM

I've just been to the Emerald site. I feel stupid. Very cool guitars. Fit and finish looks amazing. X5, X7 nice!

Acousticado · #8 12-20-2015, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMZ

I've just been to the Emerald site. I feel stupid. Very cool guitars. Fit and finish looks amazing. X5, X7 nice!

Yep. Do a search in this forum on those Emerald models. Very well regarded. I have an Emerald Chimaera 6/12 doubleneck. Emerald makes very nice instruments.

#9 12-20-2015, 07:30 PM

Acousticado has it right; take your time. The Cf market is nothing short of incredible. Blackbird, Emerald, CA/Peavey, Journey, and Rainsong are all offering 21st century instruments in a variety of sizes and shapes. Most of them are quite beautiful, and distinctive, and most of them excel in their projection and tonal qualities. If you take your time, you will find that there are players near you who have a CF instrument and they are willing to show-and-tell. Also, more and more stores are starting to stock CF guitars. Make sure you take a cruise through the Emerald, Peavey, Blackbird, Rainsong, and Emerald on-line sites. This is some fun stuff.

Explorer · #10 12-20-2015, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Christens

Well I certainly agree that this is sort of an orange to apples comparison, but my recollection is that a CA 7L-E is their full sized Dred, not the GX. The "L" is the designation refers to size, what we would more recently call a Legacy or Vintage model.

Artisan Guitars carries not just used Composite Acoustic guitars, but even still have NOS (New Old Stock) CA guitars.

https://artisanguitars.com/2008-comp...guitar-id-6985

Here's one of the dreadnaughts.

https://artisanguitars.com/composite...plus-t-id-7544

I just thought it would be helpful to not just have pictureless text, but an actual photo, to show that a 7 *looks* like the GX and not like the Bluegrass and Legacy models.

Steve Christens · #11 12-20-2015, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Explorer

Artisan Guitars carries not just used Composite Acoustic guitars, but even still have NOS (New Old Stock) CA guitars.

https://artisanguitars.com/2008-comp...guitar-id-6985

I just thought it would be helpful to not just have pictureless text, but an actual photo, to show that a 7 *looks* like the GX and not like the Bluegrass and Legacy models.

If you check my notes from above you'll see that the "7" designation refers to quality upgrades (tuners, binding, bracing, rosette and the like), not body size. A GX is a 7M (I've also seen a 5M), while the Dreads are 7L. From the picture that GX looks like a 5M, not a 7M, since it doesn't have a rosette.

Explorer · #12 12-20-2015, 08:08 PM

Ah, I see! Thanks!

dkoloff · #13 12-21-2015, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMZ

I passed over 2 used cargo raws in the last 3 years and a NOS cargo burst last summer at a great price. Kicking myself. I like them and have looked but they just seem to not be for sale lately, especially in the older price point and looking on ebay. Where'd they all go? I've seen and played a 7 LE sunburst locally and I do really like it and the full tone as well. Just wondering if I should hold out for a cargo or try to deal on the 7 LE? I know it's one of those up to me and what I want/need things, but I'm on the fence. How does that small rainsong travel guitar compare? Anyone played all 3 or?

Two completely different guitars....unless traveling and have the need for the smaller size would definitely for the 7LE.